They envy Attila, who fought a thousand battles, and in the thousandth still felt that, which he called _gaudia certaminum_, that is, the delight in the slaughter. Oh, that old general was a lecher of blood. As far as I am concerned, holding the rank of light artillery sergeant, I confess, that I was truly in love with war, but only during the first week of my military career, and that only one single time I tasted Attila’s delight. For this reason my honeymoon and first battle will never leave my memory. The first battle has the most particular similarity to first love. How many hopes! how many illusions! before this ceremonial action, which resolves the fate of nations, any recruit feels …
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